Method and apparatus for filling containers



1 1945. M. J. M. DE MILLEVILLE 2,382,696

METHOD AND APPARATLYS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Fild March 29, 1940 s Sheets-Shgt 1 ii 21M: 1 i W Z ATTORNEY 1945 M. J. M; DE MlLLEVlLLE I 2,382,595

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Fileq March 29, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR- I fdcwca-m.

v I ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 14, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS 1 Marie Joseph Maurice de Milleville, Paris, France; vested in the Alien Property Custodian Application March 29, 1940, Serial No. 326,558 In ll iuxemburg April 1, 1939 12, Claims. (Cl. 226-115) and despite their efforts quantities of air as high as 14 0. cm. per bottle have been trapped in the bottles in certain cases.

Heretofore, the process of filling bottles contained the step of making the beverage in the bottle foam at the end of the filling operation so that the air then present in the bottle would be driven off. The results attained by this process are not only imperfect with beverages that do not foam easily, but with all beverages, since as the air is driven off part of the carbon dioxide is lost from the beverage. Furthermore, accord ing to the known manner for carrying out this process, the foam is sent back together with the air which it contains into the tank or reservoir of the filling apparatus so that the reservoir is often contaminated during the filling of a single badly rinsed bottle by the overflow from said bottle. An additional disadvantage of this method is that the air which is continuously driven off into the reservoir dilutes the carbon dioxide or other gas contained in the reservoir.

An object of the present invention is to avoid the above disadvantages and to provide a simple and satisfactory solution to the-problem of filling containers with gas containing liquids without also trapping air in the containers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for carrying out said method whereby gas containing beverages, such as beer, carbonated drinks, etc., under the pressure of carbon dioxide, air or any other gas, can be introduced into containers, such as, for example, bottles or casks.

The process, according to this invention, consists, among other steps, in evacuating the air and the foam in the container therefrom during the filling of the container,.discharging the foam and air into a closed receiver which is independent of the supply tank or reservoir and is constantly under a pressure equal to that in the tank and has no direct gaseous communication with said tank. The container is filled, before any liquid is flowed therein, with gas from the supply tank or reservoir, and gravity thereafter causes the liquid to flow into the container. The pressure in the reservoir or supply tank can be transmitted to the foam receiver by liquidmeans comprising communicating vessels or by some mechanical means, such as a balancing piston, membrane, etc., which are arranged to cause the intermittent automatic escape of a part of the gaseous atmosphere withdrawn from the container which is being filled. If containers-are being filled with a foaming liquid, it ispossible, according to the resent invention, to provide means whereby the foam can be collected and intermittently removed from the filling apparatus.

Other objects and novel features will more fully appear from the following detailed descrip-' tion read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are. not intended to limit the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a novel apparatus for carrying out the novel process of the present invention, said apparatus including a liquid pressure control-means;

Figs. 2 and 3 are schematicdiagrams illustrating mechanical means for transmitting pressure fro-m the receiver to the reservoir;

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged transverse sectional views of filling devices embodying the present 1 invention, comprising a circular reservoir and an annular reservoir, respectively;

Fig, 6 is a plan view of a spout used in the above embodiments of the present invention; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line VIIVII of Fig. 6.

The embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1 comprises a reservoir or supply tank A of a beer filling apparatus having a plurality of spouts [0, only one of which is shown with its cock I I, said cock being preferably operated mechanically to control the flow through three pipes 'l, 2, 3 associated therewith. Pipe .l is a counter-pressure pipe intended to establish communication between a bottle B on one hand, and the gaseous atmosphere in tank A on the other hand at the beginning of the filling operation; pipe 2 is the liquid flow pipe whereby the liquid is passed from tank A to bottle B; and

pipe 3 is the pipe through whichv air and foam are evacuated from the bottle B. Check valve means are preferably provided in combination.

with tubes I, 2 and 3 in the well-known manner in order to hinder the undue overflow of gas and liquid in the event one of bottles B bursts. Filling spouts I and the pipes controlled thereby differ from the usual arrangement 'in that pipe 3 not only does not terminate at the top of tank A but does not connect with tank A. Instead, tube 3 connects bottle B to the upper part of a foam receiver M which is, in turn, connected by a tube 4 to the upper part of one of the chambers of a liquid pressure responsive seal comprising the two chambers 5 and 6 connected by a passage 1. The chambers are partially filled with a liquid, such as water, glycerine, etc. Tube 4 is connected to chamber 5 of the seal, and chamber 6 thereof constantly communicates by means of a pipe 8 with the top of reservoir or tank A.

The bottom of receiver M has a discharge pipe 9 to discharge the foam accumulated therein, said discharge pipe being controlled by a valve mechanism comprising a cone or needle valve l2 carried by a float l3 located Within the receiver. When a quantity of foam accumulates in receiver M which is sufiicient to float member 13, valve I2 is raised from its seat and permits the escape of said foam through pipe 9. It will be understood that in the event that the liquid with which bottle B is to be filled does not foam freely, foam receiver M may be eliminated from the above apparatus, and tube 3 is then directly connected to tube 4. When the pressure in chamber 5 exceeds that in chamber 6, as when the pressure of reservoir A communicated to chamber 6 via pipe 8, falls 'due to the flow of liquid from said reservoir A and pressure is built up in chamber 5 by a flow of the air and gas through pipes 3 and 4, the level of the liquid in chamber 5 drops below that in chamber 6 with the result that the float or obturator valve l5 opens to permit the escape of air and gas whereby the pressure in chambers 5 and 6 are equalized, the level of the liquid in chamber 5 rises and valve I5 is closed. If a small amount of foam passes through pipes 3 and 4 into chamber 5 this can be drained off through a suitable drain valve (not shown).

In chamber 5 of the seal a float I4 is supported at a predetermined level by the liquid in chambers 5 and 6 when the pressures in said chambers are equal. A valve I5 is secured to or formed with float l4 and normally closes an opening l6, provided at the top of chamber 5. However. whenever the pressure in chamber 5 exceeds that in chamber 6, the level of the liquid in chamber 5 drops below that in chamber 6, and float I4 is accordingly displaced downwardly so as to uncover opening I6 and'permit the escape of sulficient gas to reestablish the pressure equ librium between chambers 5 and 6. A conduit or tube 45 connects tube 4 with pipe 8, and a cock 48 is provided in the tube 45 to control the flow of fluid therethrough.

In operation, the filling valve 45 to insure a pressure equalization. between chambers 5 and 6, that is, between reservoir A and receiver M. The liquid is then. at the same level in chambers 5 and 6 and valve l5 maintains opening l6 closed. Cock or valve 46 is then closed and cook II is operated to open tube I so that bottle B receives gas from supply tank or reservoir A, the latter having been filled by the usual means well-known in the art to a normal or mean level. The pressure in bottle B is thus equalized is begun by opening with that in reservoir A and the liquid, therefore, can flow from said reservoir into said bottle by gravity as soon as tube 2 is opened; When liquid in tank A is under the pressure of carbon dioxide, for example, bottle B when connected to reservoir A receives an injection of carbon dioxide by which the air originally contained in the bottle is forced outward toward the mouth of the bottle and above the discharge end of conduit 2 so that the liquid on entering bottle B does not encounter any air when the pressure in bottle B is equal to that in reservoir A.

Then the cock H is further operated to close counter pressure pipe I and simultaneously open pipe 2 and pipe 3. As indicated in Fig. l, the liquid flows from reservoir A into bottle B under 1 a gravitational force set up by a column of liquid L, and as bottle B becomes filled with liquid the gaseous elements therein are driven out into receiver M and into chamber 5 of the liquid seal. As a result, the pressure in chamber 5 becomes greater than that which originally existed in said chamber. Because of this increase in pressure in chamber 5 and the accompanying decrease in pressure in reservoir A, attendant upon the flow of liquid and gas therefrom, the level of the liquid in chamber 5 subsides below its original level, so that the float [4 falls and the valve l5 uncovers opening [6, so that the air forced out of bottle B during the filling of the same can escape into the atmosphere. It will be noted that this air originally contained in the bottle does not pass through tank A and therefore cannot contam nate the liquid in said tank. This escape of air causes a decrease of pressure in vessel 5 and, in receiver M, which allows the liqu d to return to the same levels in chambers 5 and 5, and float valve l5 again closes opening I6. At this moment the pressure in bottle B is equal to that in reservoir A and the liquid continues to flow gravitationally into the bottle until the bottle is completely filled.

.The movement of float I4 is preferably limited to a very small amplitude (a few millimeters) so that there is no danger of any counter-pressure in the system. The height of liquid column L is always sufficiently great as compared to the liquid displaced'in chamber 5 so as not to affect the flow of liquid into bottle B. Furthermore, the decrease in pressure in reservoir A resulting from the flow of liquid therefrom is immediately balanced by the movement of the liquid control means comprising chambers 5, 6 and passage 1. and said decrease in pressure may, if desired, be arranged to cause reservoir A to be filled to its original level by suitable means well-known in the art. Accordingly, bottle B is filled without ever forcing back the air originally contained in said bottle into the tank or reservoir from which said bottle is filled.

After bottle B has been filled according to the above described method, cock H is operated to close pipes 2 and 3, and the filled bottle may thereafter be removed and replaced by an empty bottle, and the above described cycle of operations repeated.

As shown in Fig. 2, the liquid control means of Fig. 1 may be replaced by a vessel having a membrane l1, dividing it into chambers 5a and 6a and carrying a needle valve l5a normally closing a vent 16a. This apparatus works in the same manner as the described liquid seal in that pressure changes move the diaphragm and actuate the valve to permit escape of air through opening Ilia.

Still another embodiment of th'econtrol means: is shown in Fi'g'r 3 and comprises-a pistomlBHreQ ciprocally mounted in aicylinderx'l S'Fso as torzdee fine two chambers -5b -and f 629, said *pistonz' being: preferably balanced in: a middle position by means.- of balancing -springss203 An. increasekof pressure:

chamber 6b; and valve; I 5b:carriedcbyisaidfpiston is also moved: to permit an: tOJfiOW frormlopeninga l6bunti1 thepressures inz'chambersib-randvfib area equalized.

In.-Fig.a 4r there is shown; by-.wa'y;ofzexample;-. an. automatic filling apparatus: accordingzto the: present invention"; comprisingua. circularvrotating tank2.211 of "a type 'well-kn'own-inathe arts. Eachrof spouts 2 IiLidepending-from. :the: tank compris'essa a cook; the plug: I la of which is operated: by an appropriate mechanism',-andi1thecore '21 'ofcwhich opens-and closes pipes 2, 3. described above-in: connection with Figm. 1. by a frame 2:1 1 which is in turn rotatably mounted on a fixed'frame 36: by meansgof 'athrust ball bearing 35.1 Theliquid; for'example, beer, is in troduced intouthetank 2itby a pipe 22 iwhich passes through a .stufiing box=23 1ocated inwthe upper wall. of said. :tank. In this embodiment "ofthe. invention, the foam receiver-M of Figs 1 Iconsists of. a container 2 5 mounted on frame 245 un derneath .tanloll; The upper part of. saidcon tainer communicates by means of a pipe 28 with the upperipart of the interiorof -a' closed "chamber 2990f a pressureresponsive: liquid sealcor-responding to chambers 5; 6,1 of-Fig; 1. Chamber: 29 is housed inside of rotating frame 24 under receiver 25. A cylinder 32- is 1 concentrically mounted within the-chamberflland has itsbottom open. The-annular space be'tween the cyl inder 32.and='thechamber 29 corresponds-- to chamber 6- of Figure 1, and-'the-interiorof' cham oer-29 corresponds to chamber of-Fi-ge 1. Acoordingly, the upper part' of? the-annular space is connected: with the-top of tankkZI 'by-meansof a pipe 30;and a-float control valve M515; I6 is provided. in cylinder32J II'IOldEI' to provide for the introduction of=1iduid "34'-intothe pressure responsive liquid seal, a tube -3 l' extends into the upper part'of chamber -29-from the exterior-of the frame 24-; said tube also serving-"for'rinsing the apparatus. Supports Mirare employed-for yieldingly holding bottles B inoperative relation with spouts 26. Asshown these supports-arcin the form of levers pivoted intermedi'ate-theirends' at to to rotatable frame'24; Coil springs 5l are preferably interposed between'theinnerends of lever 42a and suitable projections provided on said frame 2M Fig. 5 illustrates themanner in which theinvention may be applied -to*anautomatic filler" comprising an annular tank 38. The filling mechanism is provided in the samemanneras in- Fig. 4 with spouts 26c and pipes I. 2 and ;3," the latter being controlled by cocks Ila. Foan'rrecevier M of Fig. 1 in the present embodiment consists of a vessel 3'! carried coaxial'ly byrtank 38" and carrying in turn; the pressure responsive liquid seal constituted by chamber 29d; cylinder 32a and liquid-Bland 'communicatingwith' the" tank 38" and with the receiver '31; Tank '38, foam receiver 31. chamber 295 andcylinder M'are all mounted by means of columns-'39 on a rotating frame lflicomprisinga rimdl preferablvformed; into a worm wheel having supports 42 on-which the bottles are placed; said-worm wheel beingadapted 1 to be turned by a worm (not shown); Tank 38 is preferably filled-" with liquid bymeans- Thex-tank 22f .is carried otter pipe 33which extends from-.:the.=:bottom;.ofii said tank throughtheaxis ofLframe-Mi: Aofluide tight connection is provided at=32bi.zbymeanssof whiclr pipe 33 i s cbnnected to conduit :43 fwhich extendswthrough stationaryvframe 44. A pres- Toqapply economically the present invention' to existing:machines,- it is only necessaryto pro vide a receiver M- and a pressure 1 responsive seal" in'clud-ing ch'ambersi and-Bias shown in -Fig. 2, with the-illustrated connections andto:=.modirythe spouts: The latter can be accomplished by inserting-apart (Figs: 6 and- 7) which -di's=- connects oneof r the three 'pipes connected im present devices to the supply tank and connects saidpipe by means of 'pipe 48 in-the manher-of pipe-'3, as shown in Fig.- 1. The other-two-pipes-- then serve-the functionof pipesl and*2.'

It' is obvious that the method and apparatus of this invention may beutilized effectively in all: types of automatic or semi-automaticfillingdevices-inten'dedior handling" liquids under pres sure of carbon-dioxideor any other gas; for in? stance;- compressedairw In--the latter case; the' process does'not offer-the advantage ofpermit tingthefilling to takeplace with the air exhaust ed I from the container but; nevertheless; as ex plai-ned above; will-make it possible to avoid-thecontamination of 'awholetank full of liquidwhi-ch" frequently occurs when the return of foam and: air takes placethrough the tank; It will; be -understood that the fillingcan be accomplished' 'according to the present invention with liquid in the supply tank under atmospheric pressure; in which case the" same advantages -exist as when: using compressed air; A' filling apparatus cone.

' structed according-to the present invention can be manufactured as economically as thoseirr or dinary-use today and 'results in aconsiderable".

saving by substantial-1y eliminating the possibility of-- fermentation after the beverage V is; bottled. It is l to be noted that the *bottli'ng'operation' .car-g ried on according to the" present invention" is entirely-automatic without any :additional labor input or expensive change in apparatus. When bottlingbeerp thepresent invention permits the" omission of 1 expensive pasteurization processes which-alter the-tasteof-beer-and increase the bot-tling-expense.- v p v It is to be expressly understood that the invena tion is not-"limited to the" several embodiments illustrated and described: Various changes anparentto those-skilled in the artim'ay be made without departing; from the spirit and scope of the invention-as def ned by the appended claims.

That is claimed" is 1. The-combination with 'a tank containing a. liquid under pressure adapted "to;be introduced into a container; a pipe-constituting a pressure passagebetween the tank and containerpa filling pipe-extendingfromthe tank'tothe container.

saidair receiver to the pressure in said tank and for'preventing passage'of gas or liquid between said receiver and tank.

2. The combination with a tank containing a liquid adapted to be introduced into a container, of a pipe constituting a pressure passage between the tank and the container, a filling pipe extending from the tank to the container, a, vent pipe for the container, said pipes separately extending into said container, the filling and fluid passage pipes having outlets in said container located a substantial distance below the vent pipe outlet, means for controlling the flow through said pipes, receiving means connected to said vent pipe, and pressure responsive means connected to said receiving means and to said tank, said pressure responsive means bein adapted to prevent passage of gas or liquid between said receiving means and tank and to maintain the pressure in said receiving means equal to that in said tank.

3. The combination with a tank containing a liquid adapted to be introduced into a container, of a conduit constituting a pressure passage from said container to said tank, a filling pipe connecting said tank to said container, a vent pipe for carrying off foam, vapor and gas from said container, said conduit and said pipes separately extending into said container, the conduit and filling pipe having outlets in said container cateda substantial distance below the vent pipe outlet, a unitary valve mechanism controlling the flow from said pipes and said conduit, means connected to said vent pipe and said tank, said means comprising a receiver for collecting foam, a fluid-tight seal and a valve mechanism, the lastnamed valve mechanism being actuated by differences in pressure between said receiver and said tank to permit the escape of the vapor and gas from said vent pipe, and said fluid tight seal being adapted to prevent fluid flow from said vent to said tank.

4. In apparatus for introducing liquid into a plurality of containers, an annular reservoir containing liquid under pressure, means for mounting a plurality of containers beneath and adjacent the outer periphery of said reservoir, a plurality of pipes, each of said pipes connecting with said reservoir and one of said containers to constitute a pressurepassage from the reservoir to said container, a plurality of filling pipes, each of the latter pipes extending from the reservoir to one of the containers, a foam and air receiver concentrically mounted within said reservoir, a plurality of vent pipes communicating with said receiver, each of said vent pipes radially extending from said receiver into the upper part of one of said containers, valve mechanisms for controlling the fiow through said pipes into and out of said containers, and pressure equalizing means arranged to maintain a pressure in said receiver equal to the pressure in said reservoir, said means comprising a tank coaxially mounted relative to said receiver, a passage communicating with said receiver and said reservoir, a fluid seal for said passage, and a valve for venting gas from said tank when the pressure therein exceeds that in the reservoir.

5. In apparatus for introducing a liquid into a container, a circular reservoir containing liquid under pressure, means for mounting a plurality of containers beneath and adjacent said reservoir, pipes constituting pressure passages from the reservoir, each of said pipes connecting with one of said containers, filling pipes extending from the reservoir, each of said filling pipes' connecting with one of the containers, a foam and dicharg air receiver coaxially mounted relative pressure equalizing means adapted to maintain a pressure in said receiver equal to the pressure in said reservoir and to prevent fluid fiowbetween said receiver and said reservoir, said means comprising a fluid-tight member coaxially mounted relative to said receiver and conduits connecting said member to said receiver and said reservoir.

6. In apparatus for introducing liquid into aplurality of containers, a circular reservoir containing liquid under pressure, means for mounting said containers beneath and adjacent the outer periphery of said reservoir, a plurality of pipes constituting pressure passages from the reservoir to said containers, a plurality of filling pipes extending from the reservoir to the containers, a foam and air receiver coaxially mounted beneath said reservoir, said receiver including valve mechanism for discharging foam therefrom, a plurality of vent pipes communicating with said receiver, each of said vent pipes extending from said receiver into the upper part of one of said containers, valve mechanisms for controlling the flow through said pipes into and out of each of said containers, and ,a pressure equalizing means adapted to maintain a pressure in said receiver equal to the pressure in said reservoir and to prevent fluid flow between said reservoir and said receiver.

7. The combination with a tank containing a liquid under pressure adapted to be introduced into a container, of a pipe constituting a pressure passage between the tank and container, a filling pipe extending from the ,tank into the container, a vent pipe for the container, each of said pipes separately extending into said container, means for controlling the flow through said pipes, an air receiver, a vent valve therein, means connecting said air receiver to said vent pipe, said con-,

necting means including a vessel for collecting and discharging foam,'and means for subjecting said air receiver to the pressure in said tank,

8. In apparatus of the class described, a tank containing liquid adapted to be introduced into a container, a pipe constituting a pressure passage between the tank and the container, a filling pipe extending from the tank to the container, a vent pipe leading from the upper part of the container, said filling pipe and pressure pipe having outlets in said container located a substantial distance below the vent pipe outlet, means for controlling the flow through said pipes, and means connected in communication with said vent pipe and said tank and responding to the pressure in said tank in a manner to maintain the pressure in said vent pipe equal to that in said tank without permitting any fluid flow from said vent pipe to said tank.

9. In apparatus for introducing liquid into a container, a reservoir containing liquid under pressure, means for mounting a container beneath said reservoir, a pipe constituting a pressure passage from the reservoir to said container, a filling pipe extending from the reservoir to said container, a foam and air receiver, a vent pipe communicating with said reservoir, said vent pipe leading from the upper part of the container to said receiver, valve mechanism for controlling the fluid flow through said pipes into and out of said container, and a passage connected to said receiver and to said reservoir, pressure equalizing means for said passage arranged to maintaina pressure in said receiver equal to the pressure in the reservoir, said pressure equalizing means comprising a fluid seal, and a valve for venting gas from said fluid seal when the pressure therein exceeds that in the reservoir.

10. In apparatus for introducing liquid into a plurality of containers, a reservoir containing liquid under pressure, means for mounting said containers beneath said reservoir, a plurality of pipes constituting pressure passages from the reservoir to said containers, a plurality of filling pipes extending from the reservoir to said containers, a foam and air receiver, said receiver including valve mechanism for discharging foam therefrom, a plurality of vent pipes communicating with said receiver, each of said vent pipes leading to said receiver from the upper part of one of said containers, valve mechanisms for controlling the flow through said pipes into and out of each of said containers, and pressure equalizing means adapted to maintain a pressure in said receiver equal to the pressure in said reservoir and to prevent fluid flow between said reservoir and said receiver.

11. The method of filling a container with liquid from a tank containing, the liquid and a gas under pressure in a substantially closed circuit in which the gravity flow of liquid from the tank is substantially dependent upon the pressure resulting from expulsion of the. air and foam from the container, said method consisting in equalizing the pressures in the container and tank to permit liquid to flow from the tank by gravity into the lower part of the container in a manner to displace any air in the container to the upper part thereof, removing from the container the air and any foam due to the presence of the said gas in the liquid by venting theair, gas and foam from the upper part of the container into a portion of the circuit back to the tank, trapping the vented air, gas, and foam in a space in the circuit, said trapping being performed in a manner to produce discharge to waste of the foam from said space upon the accumulation of a predetermined amount of foam therein, and equalizing the pressures in said space and in said portion of the circuit leading back to the tank in a manner to produce discharge to waste of air from said space whenever th pressure therein exceeds that in said portion of the circuit, said equalizing being performed in a manner preventing return into said portion of the circuit of the air, gas or foa withdrawn from said container.

12. The method recited by claim 11 wherein said equalizing is performed by establishing a pressure responsive seal in said portion of the circuit between said space and the interior of the tank whereby exchanges of pressures between the tank and said space can take place without establishing communication between the tank and said space. MARIE JOSEPH MAURICE DE MILLEVILLE. 

